GUEST EDITORIAL: Reorganization of DCS staff is step in right direction

Given the riveting national and local news last week, it would be easy to overlook the shake-up in the embattled Tennessee Department of Children's Services. Interim Commissioner Jim Henry has reorganized the top staff as part of a renewed focus on children's safety.

"The first responsibility of DCS, whatever happens, should be to make sure the child is safe," Henry said at an April 15 news conference.

Henry, who also is the commissioner of the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, was tapped by Gov. Bill Haslam Feb. 5 to replace Katy O'Day, who resigned amid criticisms of DCS operations and an open records lawsuit.

Henry shook up his top staff and created a new division focusing on safety and investigations. ?

A Metro Nashville-Davidson County chancellor on Wednesday ruled DCS must turn over the records of investigations into the deaths of 50 children who died either in DCS custody or after DCS investigated abuse or neglect allegations. Led by the Tennessean, a coalition of media companies, including the News Sentinel, sued DCS for those and other records in December.

Chancellor Carol McCoy also made the proper ruling in ordering the state to charge the media companies only for the cost of making copies. The state cannot bill them for the cost of redacting identifying information.

Initially, the state had said it would cost more than $50,000 - including charges for transporting files and redacting information from them - to fill the request for records on more than 200 child deaths.

State agencies should have the capability to fill requests made under Tennessee's Public Records Act. Charging for transportation and redacting was clearly meant to dissuade the media from seeking all the records. McCoy's ruling struck a blow for open government in Tennessee.

Henry's job is to right the ship at DCS, and last week's restructuring should go a long way toward improving the way the agency functions.

Improving the way it responds to public records requests also should be a priority. The citizens of Tennessee have every right to monitor the agency - which, after all, is charged with protecting the state's children - without unnecessary bureaucratic interference.

- Knoxville News Sentinel

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GUEST EDITORIAL: Reorganization of DCS staff is step in right direction

Given the riveting national and local news last week, it would be easy to overlook the shake-up in the embattled Tennessee Department of Children's Services.